Boeing AH-64E Guardian attack helicopter during a combat mission. PHOTO: Mariusz Burcz / Alamy / Alamy / Profimedia
Boeing announced on Wednesday that it will produce AH-64E Apache attack helicopters for several international customers, including 96 units for the Polish Armed Forces, under a foreign military procurement contract awarded by the US Army totaling $4.7 billion..
Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2028, and Poland's order represents the largest batch of Apache helicopters ever ordered outside the United States, Reuters and News.ro write.
The Polish Ministry of Defense, which currently leases eight such aircraft from the US Army, has already begun training pilots and technical personnel, Boeing says.
The American company states that more than 1,300 Apache helicopters are operational globally.
The announcement came a day after the Pentagon revealed that Boeing had won two contracts with a combined value of more than $7 billion: the $4.7 billion Apache contract and another $2.4 billion deal with the Air Force to produce Lot 12 aircraft and related licenses.
In recent months, Boeing has delivered new Apache helicopters to defense forces in Australia, India and Morocco, strengthening its presence in the international military sector.
The Polish government started numerous purchases of military equipment, especially after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. At the same time, Poland wants to increase the number of military personnel from 190,000 at the moment to 300,000 in the coming years.
Among Poland's major orders are 1,000 South Korean-made K2 tanks. After the delivery of all vehicles, the Polish army will have the largest number of tanks in Western Europe.
